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Jockeying to begin in city manager hunt

By Lyle Moran, lmoran@lowellsun.com

Updated:
01/09/2014 12:20:32 PM EST

From left: State Rep. Kevin Murphy, state Sen. Eileen Donoghue, state Rep. Tom Golden, former city manager runner-up Frank Keefe, former state Sen. Steve Panagiotakos, former City Councilor George Ramirez, and state Rep. Dave Nangle.

LOWELL -- With the City Council set to meet next week to begin the process of selecting the next city manager, political observers and others in the city are speculating about who will seek to replace City Manager Bernie Lynch when he resigns March 10.

The names mentioned most often Wednesday as potential candidates for the top job in the state's fourth largest city were those of current politicians representing the city, as well as a former leader of the city's Statehouse delegation.

Among those said to be possible applicants for the post, which currently pays Lynch $179,856 a year, were State Reps. Tom Golden and Kevin Murphy, state Sen. Eileen Donoghue, and former state Sen. Steven Panagiotakos.

Murphy, who is in his 18th year representing Lowell at the Statehouse, acknowledged that the city manager's job is very appealing to local politicians.

"I think for any politician in the city of Lowell the city manager's position is the plum position, therefore, it would be interesting to any politician in the area," said Murphy, 61.

However, Murphy, like other potential candidates interviewed, said he was surprised by Lynch's announcement and had yet to think about applying for the job.

"I have to think about it and talk to my family about it and make a decision based on that," Murphy said.

Panagiotakos, who represented Lowell in the state Senate for 15 years and rose to become chairman of its powerful Ways and Means committee, said he too had yet to think about applying for the city manager's job.

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Panagiotakos currently serves as a registered lobbyist. He said he is happy in his current role and preparing for the new legislative year. He did say the selection of a city manager is a significant one for the City Council.

"The new council will have their most important decision right off the bat," said Panagiotakos, 55.

Golden, a Lowell Democrat, who has served 10 terms at the Statehouse, said Wednesday he was still trying to digest Lynch's decision. He also said it was too early too comment on whether he was considering applying for the position.

"There a lot of talented people being mentioned who are friends of mine," said Golden, 42. "The city will be served well by whoever is the next city manager."

Donoghue, a Lowell Democrat who formerly served as a mayor and city councilor, said Lynch's announcement has brought forth calls from people encouraging her to seek the city manager's post.

Donoghue said on Wednesday she was flattered to receive the calls, but she is content to continue working in the Senate, which she has served in since 2011.

"As we speak, I'm not a candidate for that job," said Donoghue, 59. "I have no intention of changing that. I'm very happy doing what I'm doing in the Senate."

State Rep. David Nangle, another Lowell Democrat, said he has no plans of applying for the city manager's post. Nangle did say he hopes the council hires a Lowell resident.

"I feel it is important that whoever the manager may be, they have to have their roots tied in to the city of Lowell," Nangle said.

The strongest contender from within city government for the top job would likely be Assistant City Manager Adam Baacke, who also heads the city's Department of Planning and Development.

When contacted about whether he had any interest in applying for the top city job, Baacke said it was premature for such speculation.

"Right now is more the time to celebrate Bernie's accomplishments," Baacke wrote in an email.

Former City Councilor George Ramirez, 49, has also been mentioned by some as a potential candidate.

Ramirez, who is the executive vice president of Devens operations for MassDevelopment, said the city manager's position is "intriguing," though applying for the post is something he has never considered.

Lynch came to Lowell from his position as Chelmsford's town manager.

Chelmsford's current manager, Paul Cohen, said he has no interest in the Lowell job and will not be applying.

"I, like others, will be watching to see who the next manager is and will look forward to working with whomever he or she is," said Cohen, 48, who was a finalist when the council chose Lynch in 2006.

The runnerup to Lynch in 2006 was Frank Keefe, a Boston developer and former city planning director. Keefe, who also formerly served as state planning director and Secretary of Administration and Finance, initially received two votes from councilors for the position.

Keefe had not heard about Lynch's departure until he was contacted by a Sun reporter Thursday morning. He said he would have to think about applying for the position again.

"Lowell is where I got my start," said Keefe, 67. "It has always been a special place in my career."

The City Council on Tuesday will start the process to find a replacement for Lynch, who announced his resignation earlier this week at the City Council meeting.

Mayor Rodney Elliott has called a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. for the council to establish the process for hiring Lynch's successor.

"I hope to move swiftly so we can have a manager in place by March," Elliott said. "I think we have an ample amount of time to do that."

Elliott also said he hopes the city receives strong applicants for the post.

"My preference would be to hire someone from the city, but it would be good to get a broad field of candidates," Elliott said.

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